Kay Lansing grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, daughter of the landscaper to the wealthy and powerful Carrington family. One day, accompanying h... read full description
reviews
Mar 30, 2008
Moira
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I haven't read Mary Higgins Clark in a long time. Years ago, I remember finding her books really terrifying and yet really clever. Perhaps I have become jaded or perhaps she is slipping, but this book was a bit ho-hum. The premise of a sleepwalker being charged with a crime was very interesting and the idea of the young girl marrying the older wealthy man who lives in a mansion was reminiscent of the old Gothic romance. I was hoping for a new twist on the type of book I read as a teenager.
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Aug 27, 2008
Pantea
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I have read almost every book this author has written and was excited to come across this fairly new story last week. As always it was a page turner... completely captivating and a very easy read. If you've read enough of her books you can usually pick out the murderer in the first couple of chapters... this time I narrowed it down to two and picked the wrong one (but I was close!)! Very typical MHC - fun to read, interesting plot, not a lot of character development but enough to make you want
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Aug 29, 2010
Secret Bookshelf
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I Heard that Song Before is again another recommendable book written by Mary Higgins Clark. It is about the Carrington Family – one of the US’s richest families. There are three murder cases and all characters try to figure out who the murderer is. In the beginning everything seems to point to Peter Carrington who was in a relationship with two of the victims. But is this notorious sleepwalker really capable to murder three people. And if yes, did he do it conscious or during one of his sleepwal
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Aug 29, 2009
Dlora
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After a whirlwind romance (glossed over in a few sentences), librarian Kay Lansing marries extremely rich, high-society Peter Carrington who has had many tragedies in his life: his mother died when he was young, a girlfriend disappears after a party at their house and is presumed murdered, and Peter's first wife who is drunk and pregnant is found drowned in their swimming pool. Kay's own father, who was a landscape gardeners for the rich Carringtons, committed suicide in her early life. All thes
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Feb 09, 2008
Jaime
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This book had all the right ingredients for a good thriller — love, money, murder, drugs, blackmail… Instead it was a hot mess. Very choppy, very hurried in parts, characters you can’t relate to because you don’t *know* anything about them. Kay and Peter’s entire meeting, courtship, wedding, and honeymoon is covered in 4 pages, which makes it very hard to buy their devotion to one another. I finished it to see what the ending twist would be, but it wasn’t very enjoyable.
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Mar 16, 2010
Mimi
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I listened to this book on CD as I drove from Nebraska to Ohio, and I enjoyed it. It is classic Mary Higgins Clark. I was not able to solve it much before the unveiling, so that is satisfying. No point in reading it if you can figure it out in the first chapter! Until then, there were a few different suspects that I couldn't rule out, so I enjoyed going along, learning clues, and solving the mystery along with the other characters.
The book revolves around three different deaths that do More...
The book revolves around three different deaths that do More...
Jun 22, 2010
Ann
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I hadn't picked up a Mary Higgins Clark book in a few years. Mainly because I've already read most of her books since she's one of my favorite authors. However I Heard That Song Before wasn't nearly as good as her other mysteries. The characters were underdeveloped, which made it hard to like them. Then there was the literal whirlwind romance taking place in just a few pages. This made it hard to believe that Kay really loved her husband, Peter. Clark often changed the grammatical person which m
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Jul 19, 2009
Jen
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I always enjoy reading Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries. I read this one in two sittings. I appreciate that Clark's stories aren't too gory or intense. In fact, my 13 year old daughter read this one too and she also liked it very much.
The characters aren't extremely deep, but you do get a pretty good idea of the major players. In order to keep the book short enough to read quickly, Clark jumps quickly from what happened long ago to modern day. There were some pretty far-fetched, almost More...
The characters aren't extremely deep, but you do get a pretty good idea of the major players. In order to keep the book short enough to read quickly, Clark jumps quickly from what happened long ago to modern day. There were some pretty far-fetched, almost More...
Mar 22, 2008
Emily
rated it: 
Okay, first time with this author and I liked it. Picked it up in the airport because I needed more than "People" magazine. I think she had a well-woven murder mystery with an element of love. Good. Easy.
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Dec 04, 2011
Heather
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Kay, a local librarian, meets Peter Carrington when she asks him to host a fundraising reception on his estate. It was love at first sight for the couple who wed weeks later, but the honeymoon period ended fast when Peter was arrested and sent to jail for the murder of a friend and neighbor, Susan Althorp, who had been killed 22 years ago. Kay begins to uncover long hidden secrets which she hopes will help to prove the innocence of her husband. She has to be careful, though, because someone c
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Jan 03, 2012
Ines
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At first, I was so confused about the plot of this book because I didn't understand what the point of the opening was and what was happening. It is written in a backwards sort of way with events occurring at the beginning of the book, as it nicely unwinds into a who-done-it mystery novel. The more I listened to this book, the more I enjoyed and became absorbed by it. I'm sure that reading this book must be so much more thrilling than listening to it.
It was an interesting book that d More...
It was an interesting book that d More...
Jan 12, 2009
Dan
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I picked this up for a pulpy read while traveling to Europe on business. Is it great writing? No. Is it a compelling story? Nope. Did it keep me completely riveted so that I couldn't put it down? Oh yes!
Mary Higgens Clark has this talent for writing suspense novels that are complete page turners. So, while I didn't really like her style of prose, didn't find any of the characters sympathetic or even likable, for it's purposes, the book was great.
I found the ending trit More...
Mary Higgens Clark has this talent for writing suspense novels that are complete page turners. So, while I didn't really like her style of prose, didn't find any of the characters sympathetic or even likable, for it's purposes, the book was great.
I found the ending trit More...
Jul 06, 2009
Angie
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This is my second Mary Higgins Clark book. I didn't love the first one, but decided I'd give her a second read since she has such a huge following.
She has a way of introducing the mystery and dragging the reader in, but then it kind of drags and flops at the end. "I Heard That Song Before" was no different. I almost gave up in the middle, but endured on just to find out "whodunnit." It was predictable and not very climactic.
So, Ms. Clark, I've re More...
She has a way of introducing the mystery and dragging the reader in, but then it kind of drags and flops at the end. "I Heard That Song Before" was no different. I almost gave up in the middle, but endured on just to find out "whodunnit." It was predictable and not very climactic.
So, Ms. Clark, I've re More...
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Oct 01, 2009
Lance Greenfield
rated it:
Just what one expects from a Mary Higgins Clark formula: a few possible suspects from the outset, some twists and turns, and a fairly predictable ending. This is her formula. I always enjoy trying to predict the killer within the first twenty pages. Occasionally, I begin to doubt myself as I turn the pages, but I am usually right with my initial prediction. But this is what makes these books such fun to read!
Almost two days of my reading time on the beach were taken up with this one More...
Almost two days of my reading time on the beach were taken up with this one More...
Apr 07, 2010
Vanessa
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I used to love Mary Higgins Clark and read every book of hers that I could get my hands on... until I ran out of her books to read.
To sum of this book in one word -disappointing. I couldn't get over some of the grammar issues and it really doesn't even seem like the old Mary Higgins Clark books that I loved. The story wasn't bad, it was just felt like lots of important parts had been pulled out. There were many sentences where the object would be lost... I hope it's not that Mary H More...
To sum of this book in one word -disappointing. I couldn't get over some of the grammar issues and it really doesn't even seem like the old Mary Higgins Clark books that I loved. The story wasn't bad, it was just felt like lots of important parts had been pulled out. There were many sentences where the object would be lost... I hope it's not that Mary H More...
Jul 09, 2011
Jason
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There is no denying Ms. Clark's success as an author, but I was disappointed with this book. I read it because I finished my first book on vacation too quickly and I wanted something else to read. I came very close to putting it down early on but I hate doing that, so I pushed through and finished it. I was glad I did finish it but it wasn't easy. The book borrows heavily from "Rebecca" and the author's wanton usage of cliches, especially to close chapters, became annoying and repetiti
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Apr 23, 2009
Kent
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I like Clark's books; they are clean, and nothing really offensive in it, thought those kind of things don't generally bother me.
The premise of this book was the story of Kay Lansing, the daughter of a landscaper. She is a librarian (really) and talks to Peter Carrington, businessman, owner of the lavish Carrington estate, and "person of interest" in two murders. Kay and Peter fall in love. Peter is finally formally accused of murder and Kay works to clear his name. The plo More...
The premise of this book was the story of Kay Lansing, the daughter of a landscaper. She is a librarian (really) and talks to Peter Carrington, businessman, owner of the lavish Carrington estate, and "person of interest" in two murders. Kay and Peter fall in love. Peter is finally formally accused of murder and Kay works to clear his name. The plo More...
Sep 09, 2009
Georgiann
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When Kay Lansing was only six she sneaked into the hidden chapel of the Carringtons ,new jersey manision and over heard a conversation between a man and a women that night 18 year old Susan Altrop disappeared .twenty two years later she is now married to peter carrington who is still being persucuted because he had given the girl a ride home.. the d.a believes he is guilty of the girls murder when her body is found 22 years later on the grounds of his estate. he is arrested. and tried for th
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Dec 20, 2010
Andrea
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I love all of Mary Higgins Clarks books but I really loved this one, with the historical old mansion ad very weathly and powerful family caught up in murder, It had my heart pumping the whole time. From the very first chapter where in an innocent little girl witnesses something not so innocent till the end when you finally find out the whole truth, it will keep you hooked. I could'nt put this book down it had me so into tring to solve it. I reccomend this to anyone who likes a great heartstoppin
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Jan 21, 2012
Terri
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I loved Mary Higgins Clarks' earliest novels. They were dark and a bit scary. I read everything she wrote. I even named my daughter after the main character in <Touch Not the Cat>, Bryony. As I moved into reading her later novels, I found them formulaic and slightly dull.
I found the Reader's Digest volume that contains this newer novel. Out of curiosity I read it. I find that my opinion hasn't changed of her progression from gritty, dark suspense novels to slick, nominally inte More...
I found the Reader's Digest volume that contains this newer novel. Out of curiosity I read it. I find that my opinion hasn't changed of her progression from gritty, dark suspense novels to slick, nominally inte More...
Aug 26, 2011
Nancy
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Frankly, this was a disappointment. The last mystery I read of hers was a good read, so I was looking forward to more; however I won't let this one dissuade me from reading more of her mysteries.
It seems to me that this one was rather hurriedly put together with too short paragraphs and not much building of the characters. In trying to figure out the mystery early, it was impossible as I got into the book because there was just not enough depth in the characterizations. Even the lit More...
It seems to me that this one was rather hurriedly put together with too short paragraphs and not much building of the characters. In trying to figure out the mystery early, it was impossible as I got into the book because there was just not enough depth in the characterizations. Even the lit More...
Mar 20, 2011
Linda
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“I Heard that Song” before is the story ofKathryn "Kay" Lansing, a librarian who is passionate about literacy, and whose husband is suspected of murdering both an ambassador's daughter years ago and his former wife. Additionally there is the question of whether her fathers death and was a possible suicide. She remembers a song from her childhood that she heard before the first murder and wonders if it is somehow a clue in any of the multiple deaths
Kay plans a fundraiser to f More...
Kay plans a fundraiser to f More...
May 26, 2010
Julie
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It has been a long time since I have read one of Mary Higgins Clark's novels. I thought this one was a good read; not spectacular, but good. It was a little long and drawn out, but that was necessary for the complexity of the mystery itself. There were several characters, and each one was well thought out and well written. At several points in the story there were clues as to who did it, and I thought I had figured out who the culprit was. Of course, I would change my mind the next time a c
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Jun 02, 2008
Michelle
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Long ago Kay Carrington hear a man who is hidden from view , whistle a familiar song. The same day a girl was murdered. Kay's husband is being suspected for being the killer and Kay have to revisit her distant memory of that day to prove that her husband is innocent. But uncovering the truth behind that memory might cost her her life.
The central characters of her books are mostly women with harsh life circumstances. There is women who are betrayed by shifty husbands, imprisoned, psycholog More...
The central characters of her books are mostly women with harsh life circumstances. There is women who are betrayed by shifty husbands, imprisoned, psycholog More...
Jul 26, 2007
Beth
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Kay Lansing works at the local Engelwood Library. After visiting Peter Carrington to ask his permission to host a fundraiser at his home, Kay and Peter fall in love during a whirlwind romance. People are surprised by their sudden marriage especially because of the "cloud of suspicion" hanging over Peter Carrington after the disapearance of his girlfriend Susan Althrop 22 years ago and the death of his first wife, who was 7 months pregnant, 4 years ago. Not long after their marriage a c
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Feb 20, 2010
Amy
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Ah...Mary Higgins Clark. One of life's guilty pleasures. I picked this book up to read on vacay in November, but never got around to it. So at the start of this year when I did a sweep of my bookshelves and pulled out everything that I haven't read, this got added to the pile.
It's everything you expect from the formulaic books that are the Mary Higgins Clark books, but it did keep me guessing until the end.
A nice little aside from the heavier fiction I have yet to tackle.
It's everything you expect from the formulaic books that are the Mary Higgins Clark books, but it did keep me guessing until the end.
A nice little aside from the heavier fiction I have yet to tackle.
Mar 16, 2010
Crystal
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Overall, I enjoyed this book. For quick, twisty mystery plots, I have always liked Mary Higgins Clark. Just when you think the murderer is one person, it is someone you didn't count on. However, I wanted to really like it, but couldn't because parts of the story were rushed and the book felt borderline outlandish and soap operish. I found myself in the beginning rereading a couple of pages to make sure I had not missed anything. Other than that I liked it.
Jun 24, 2010
Vanessa
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I love Mary Higgins Clark, although this is not one of my favorites. The characters are well developed and the unveil at the end excellent with plenty of clues along the way. There was also an epilogue which tied up the dangling ends and provides some insight into the future of the characters, good and bad.
The problem I had with it, (and maybe it's just one of those things I don't care for,) is that bad stuff keeps piling up with no end in sight until almost the end. I like the turn More...
The problem I had with it, (and maybe it's just one of those things I don't care for,) is that bad stuff keeps piling up with no end in sight until almost the end. I like the turn More...
Oct 16, 2009
Stacey
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This book has renewed my interest in Mary Higgins Clark. She was one of my favorite authors when I was growing up. I loved the mystery and suspense her books had. Then her books took a nose dive and she started co-writing with her daughter--whose books are possible the worst I've ever attempted to read. But this one was available at the library so I thought I'd give it a go.
I loved the story, the characters (well, most of them), the mystery, the secrets, the rumors and all the gossip More...
I loved the story, the characters (well, most of them), the mystery, the secrets, the rumors and all the gossip More...
